Every Wayro route we publish from U.S. cities to Navojoa, Sonora, with the border crossing each one uses and what you need to bring a U.S. car across.
About Navojoa
Navojoa sits in the Mayo River valley of southern Sonora, the homeland of the Mayo (Yoreme) people. Its attractions include the Sacred Heart church, the Pueblo Viejo district, the Museo Regional del Mayo and a cultural center in the old railroad station.
- Museo Regional del Mayo: The regional museum is devoted to the Mayo country of southern Sonora and is one of the city's listed attractions. source
- Centro Cultural Antigua Estación: Navojoa's former railroad station now serves as a cultural center, listed by the federal culture ministry among the city's attractions. source
- Pueblo Viejo de Navojoa: The old town district appears on the official list of places to see alongside the Sacred Heart church and the municipal market. source
Crossing into Mexico: what you need to drive to Navojoa
| Passport | Passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by land |
|---|---|
| FMM entry permit | Required for this trip: Navojoa is well beyond the 12-mile (20 km) border zone where the permit is not needed |
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: Navojoa is outside Sonora's free zone. Banjercito also issues a Sonora-only permit for cars that stay in the state |
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you cross |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito. Sonora free zone: Explore Sonora.
Where drivers cross the border
Nogales
Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora, share several crossings: DeConcini downtown is the main gateway for visitors and daily crossers, Morley Gate nearby serves pedestrians, and Mariposa on the west side handles commercial trucks. The city is also home to Arizona's only rail crossing. Used by 14 of the routes below.
Drives to Navojoa from the U.S.
| From | Miles | Driving time | Border crossing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nogales, AZ | 377 | 6 h 20 min | Nogales |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | 437 | 7 h 41 min | Nogales |
| Tucson, AZ | 444 | 7 h 24 min | Nogales |
| Bisbee, AZ | 463 | 8 h 15 min | Nogales |
| Coolidge, AZ | 506 | 8 h 28 min | Nogales |
| Casa Grande, AZ | 507 | 8 h 21 min | Nogales |
| Safford, AZ | 530 | 9 h 21 min | Nogales |
| Chandler, AZ | 537 | 8 h 53 min | Nogales |
| Apache Junction, AZ | 541 | 9 h 30 min | Nogales |
| Gilbert, AZ | 543 | 9 h 4 min | Nogales |
| Globe, AZ | 545 | 9 h 45 min | Nogales |
| Mesa, AZ | 546 | 9 h 8 min | Nogales |
| Tempe, AZ | 550 | 9 h 1 min | Nogales |
| Phoenix, AZ | 554 | 9 h 3 min | Nogales |
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway mile markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route (roughly 2 to 7 miles depending on the type, farther for World Heritage sites): at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, with no more than five of one type, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place and city descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.